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Factsheets on WEEE

The WEEE Regulations introduce new rules for producers, distributors, exporters of electrical and electronic equipment and householders. 

• If you manufacture, import or re-brand EEE and place it on the UK market, you will be a producer and must join a Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS) to discharge your producer obligations.  37 producer compliance schemes have been approved, a list is available via the link on the right hand column.

• If you provide new EEE directly to household users/consumers you will be a distributor, and must provide facilities to your customers to return old equipment free of charge.

• If you are a business end user of EEE you no longer need to pay for the disposal of EEE when it becomes waste, producers pay for the treatment, collection and recycling in most cases.

• Exporters will only be able to issue evidence of WEEE treatment or recovery overseas if they have been approved by the Environment Agency.

• Every year in the UK, households throw away around 1 million tonnes of WEEE such as TVs, fridges, hairdryers and computers.  Householders have no obligations under the Regulations but can help to recycle these goods.

•  You can find information about your nearest recycling centre from Recycle-more.co.uk.  

Use the links on the right to find a factsheet that will explain the new rules.

A list of Approved Exporters (AE) and Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities (AATF) in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is available from the link on the right hand column.